Fabric treating apparatus



Sept. 10, 1963 H. w. JANsoN FABRKI TREATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 12, 1962 sept. 1o, 196s Y H. w. JANSON 3,103,450

FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS lFiled Jan. l2, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' HO V ACSept. 10, 1963 H. w. JANsoN FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Jan. 12, 1962 United States Patent O 3,103,450 FABRIC TREATRNGAPPARATUS Harry W. Janson, Fairhaven, Mass., assigner to HoytManufacturing Corporation, Westport, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Jan. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 165,842 4 Claims. (Cl. 11S-48) This invention relates to fabric treating systems and to improvedapparatus particularly useful in such systems.

`In recent years substantial attention has been given to the developmentof textile cleaning systems and apparatus of the self-service nature inwhich `a customer may deposit the articles to be cleaned in a vendingtype of machine which will return fthe articles to the customer incleaned condition. Due tothe apparent convenience to the customer and tothe savings in labor expense such apparatus oifer significant commercialadvantage. However, as dry cleaning systems involve a number of stepsand a substantial investment in equipment, there are considerableproblems associated with attempts to automate existing types of systems.It is diilicult to incorporate the several dry cleaning steps employedin commercial techniques in a single machine. Further, many establisheddry cleaning establishments have a substantial existing investment inexcellent cleaning equipments. A usual process, for example, employsperchloroethylene as a cleaning agent, which is an expensive componentthat must be reclaimed for competitive dry cleaning operations.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide novel andimproved apparatus adapted to function as transition -apparatus betweenan existing dry cleaning system and a self-service type of customerservice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel control apparatusfor receiving soiled fabric articles and returning them to a customer inan automatic and controlled manner which enables the use of existingregular dry cleaning equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide appara- `tus that enablethe provision of a low cost, fast selfservice type of dry cleaningservice which incorporates the quality cleaning operation of acommercial dry cleaner established system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus forreceiving soiled articles and through which they may be returned to thecustomer after dry cleaning treatment in which provision is made fortreatment of the articles with an atomizable fabric conditioning agentWhile they are being aerated in the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment constructed in accordance with the principlesof the invention there is provided a system including a textile articlereceiving chamber rotatably supported within a housing having doors atopposite ends which permit access to the chamber. One of the 'accessdoors is responsive to a conventional coin operated vending type ofmechanism which controls the locking of the door and permits textilearticles .to be deposited within the chamber. The other access doorpermits an operator to remove the deposited articles and to treat themin the commercial dry cleaning system. After the articles have beencleaned the `operator returns them to the chamber in which they aretumbled in `an aerating action and treated with a suitable fabrictreating agent in atomized form. This material is introduced through anozzle arrangement mounted on the system access door which permits theintroduction of the treating agent throughout the chamber as the clothesare being aerated. The system operates under timing control and includessignaling devices for both the operator and the customer so that anaccurately timed cycle is insured. The chamber is arranged so that thecustomer access door is auto- Patented Sept. l0, 1963 ice maticallylocked when the power is olf, and interlocks are provided so that asimple, reliable, trouble-free self-service type of transition isprovided for -a commercial dry cleaning establishment in which clothesand other fabric articles are treated with a fabric conditioning agent.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen asthe following description of a preferred embodiment thereof progressesin conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of the dry cleaning vendin gapparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofthe apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear View of a portion of the dry cleaning vending apparatusshowing certain details of the rear or operator access door, the nozzleand control mechanisms controlling the operation of the nozzle forintroducing a bacteria killing agent;

lFlG. 4 is Ia side elevational View of a portion of the vvendingapparatus structure and particularly the operator 'access doorstruc-ture and adjacent valving and control `in the system shown inlFIGS. 1-6.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the housing 10 of the dry cleaning and vendingmachine constructed in accordance with principles of the invention. Thisstructure is styled to` be attractive in appearance and has an upperpanel 12 which includes a coin receptacle and control unit 14controlpush button 16 and indicator lights 18, 20 for indicating tothe customerthe use status of the machine. The middle panel 22 includes a circularcustomer access door 24 having a handle 26 mounted on a hinge structure28. The door includes a solenoid operated lock which is released inresponse to the depression of button 16 (except during dry cleaningcycles) to permit introduction or removal of articles from the apparatusby the customer.

Mounted within the housing in axial alignment with the door 24 is atumbling chamber 30 which is driven in rotation by motor 32 mounted inbac'k of the lower panel 33.

As shown in FIG. 3, a similarly formed operator access door 34 ismounted, also in axial alignment, on hinges 36 on the rear panel 38 ofthe apparatus and has a latch handle 40 to permit access by an operatorto the rear of the tumbling cylinder 30 so that he may remove soiledarticles and treat them in the commercial dry cleaning apparatus, andthen return the cleaned articles in the tumbling cylinder.

Also mounted on the rear structure is a nozzle apparatus 42 forintroducing an atomizable fabric treating material such as abactericidalagent into the tumbling cylinder 30.

Electric power supplied to the apparatus in conventional manner powersthe electric motor 32 housed in the lower portion of the structure whichdrives by means of the belt 44 and drive pulley 46 a trundling shaft 48,as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Two support and trundling pulleys 50 areprovided on the shaft 48 at front and rear ends thereof on one side ofthe housing and a second set of idler trundling support pulleys 50 arecorrespondingly positioned on a second shaft 52 on the other side of thehousing 1l). Each trundling pulley engages a trundling belt 54, 56positioned at the ends of the chamber 30 which rotatably support thatchamber in position concentric with ythe customer access door 24. Eachsupport shaft 48, 52 is supported on suitable ybearing blocks 58 securedto the housing framework.

As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tumbler chamber 30 is formed of aperforated metal sheet 60 formed in a cylinder that carries axiallyextending bars 62 on the outer surface thereof to increase the rigidityof the cylindrical sheet 60. Inwardly extending end walls 64 define anenclosure within which the articles to -be treated are retained. Thehousing adjacent each door 24, 34 has an inturned flange 66 radiallyspaced from an outwardly extending flange on the end wall 64. Each doorhas an offset interior wall surface 68 which is aligned with the chamberend wall 64 when the door is closed so that a substantially smoothenclosing surface results. Immediately behind latch 40 is an interlockswitch 69 employed to control motor 32.

A metering appanatus is mounted adjacent the door 34 on the rear panel.This apparatus includes a liquid material supply line 70 which isconnected through a junction and conduit 72 to a solenoid controlledthree-way valve 74. Air supply is provided on line 76 through an airstrainer 78 and a regulator 80 to a solenoid controlled air valve 82.Anair pressure gauge 84 is also provided. The liquid is metered into ametering container 86 with which a vent line 88 communicates and isSiphoned out through a first flexible line 90 connected to a nozzlestructure 42 mounted on the door 34. In similar Amanner a secondflexible air line 92 is connected to the nozzle structure 42 from theair solenoid control valve 82. Electrical lines 94, 96 connect thesolenoids for valves 74, 82 respectively to the control circuitry.

A detailed View of the nozzle structure 42 is shown in FIG. 6. Eachflexible line 90, 92 is connected to the entrance conduit of the nozzlestructure by means of a conventional coupling 98, 100 to provideadequate sealing. The liquid flows through a spiral `diffuser 102 to anelongated central tube and orifice 104. Air is conducted into a chamber106 concentric with and surrounding diffusing orifice 108 which has anexit orifice 110 arranged to provide a iiow of air past the liquidstream from orifice 108 to aspirate and diffuse the material forentrance into the tumbler cylinder. The entire structure is mounted onthe `door 34 by suitable securing means such as bolts 112 through aflared transition member 114 dimensioned to insure the proper air flowcharacteristics so that there will be adequate diffusion of the liquid.A suitable fabric treating agent is an aqueous solution of neomycin, anantibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces closely related toStreptomyces fradz'ae, and Which is described in United States PatentNo. 2,830,011.

The electric circuitry employed in this system is shown in schematicform in the diagram of FIG. 7. That circuitry is supplied by a 11C-voltelectric power over lines 120, 122. The circuitry includes a maincontrol relay 124 which controls normally closed contacts 124-1 and124-2 and normally open-contacts 124-3, 124-4 and 124-5. Connected inseries with contacts 124-1 is push button 16 and the customer accessdoor lock solenoid 126. 'Connected in series with the relay 124 is a setof normally open contacts 128 which are operated by the coin controlreceptacle 14 and a set of normally closed contacts 134-1. Connected inseries with contacts 124-3 is the motor 32 and a switch 130 operated byinterlock 69 to open the motor circuit when the second or operatoraccess door 34 is open. A timer 132 is connected in series with contacts124-4 and controls solenoid 134, metering solenoid 136 (which operatesvalve 74), metering solenoid 138 (which operates Valve 82) and controlsolenoid 140 (which operates normally open contacts 140-1). Contacts124-2 and 124-5 control visual and audible signalling devices; the InUse lamp 18, an operator Warning lamp 142 and an audible signal 144being energizable when contacts 124-5 are closed; and the Available lamp2t) and the audibler alarm 144 being energizablewhen contacts 124-2 areclosed. An operator controlled toggle switch 146 selects the circuit towhich the audible alarm element 144 is connected.

In operation of the system all the relays are normally deenergized, thecustomer access door 24 is locked, and lamp 20 is energized indicatingthat the apparatus is available. A customer desiring to utilize theapparatus pushes `button 16, energizing solenoid 126 to unlock door 24and deposits the articles to be treated in the chamber 38. She thendeposits the indicated amount of money in coins in the vending control14 and that unit operates contacts 128 to energize relay 124. With thatencrgization the `door 24 is locked, motor 32 and timer 132 are started,and the signalling circuitry is operated to deenergize lamp 20 and toenergize lamp 18 (indicating the apparatus is in use) and audible signal144 (provided toggle switch 146 is in the position shown in FIG. 6). Theaudible signal from element 144 at a control console in the dry cleaningestablishment, for example, alerts an operator that the machine is inuse. The opera-tor silences the signal by operating toggle switch 146and opens the rear door 34, operating contacts to stop motor 32. Theoperator removes the articlesy to tbe cleaned and subjects them to a drycleaning routine, as with a suitable solvent such as perchloroethylenein the dry cleaning establishment.

Y The timer 132 energizes solenoid 140 ten minutes before the end of thecycle, closing contacts -1 to energize flasher light 142 instructing theoperator to return the cleaned articles to chamber 31D. The articles arereturned through the rear door 34 and, when that door is closed, theelectric motor 32 is again energized to rotate the tumbling cylinderproducing an aeration of the articles. Five minutes before the end ofthe cycle the neomycin metering operation is initiated by energizationof solenoids 136, 138 and the articles are sprayed with the bactericidalagent in a treatment that prevents the formation of perspiration odor onthe fabrics. At the end of the cycle solenoid 134 is energized, openingcontacts 134-1 to deenergize relay 124 and terminate the tumbling andaeration action. Buzzer 144 signals the `operator that time cycle hasterminated land he moves toggle switch 146 to the apparatus availableposition. Light 20 is also energized and contacts 124-1 are closed sothat the front door 24 may be unlocked by depressing pushbutton 16.After the articles have Abeen removed the apparatus is ready for anotheroperation.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a controlledself-service tnansition system which permits the use of a coin operatedvending system with use of existing dry cleaning equipment in which thedry cleaning operation may be performed in the time tested commercialrnanner but enables the customer to deposit and 'after a fixed timeinterval to automatically receive cleaned, treated and aerated articles.While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, various modifications thereof, as in the physical arrangementof components or in details of the control circuitry, will be obvious tothose skilled in the art. Therefore it is not intended that theinvention bel limited to the `disclosed embodiment or to detailsthereof, and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What `is claimed is:

'1. Appanatus `for employment in conjunction with a fabric dry cleaningoperation comprising a housing,

fa rotatable tumbler drum mounted within said housing,

s-aid dnum having a circumferentially extending trundlinlg belt adjacenteither end thereof, a support shaft positioned on each side of saiddrum, each shaft having a trundling pulley corresponding to eachtrundling belt secured thereon and positioned for engagement with theassociated trundling belt,

means to drive one o-f said shafts to `rotate said tumbler drum,

each end wall of said drum having an axially disposed cylindricalopening,

said housing l'iiaving la cylindrical ange member concentric With andextending into each end W-all opening,

and a cylindrical door structure cooperating with each end wall,

each door being hingedly supported on said housing and having aninterior surface adapted to be aligned with the interior surface of theadjacent drum end Wall when the door is closed,

said housing and doors being arranged so that said tumbler drum may berotated When said Idoors are closed,

a nozzle structure mounted on one of said ldoors for introducing adispersed material into said tumbler drum,

metering apparatus mounted -on said housing adjacent v said one door andilexible conduit means including a liquid receiving supply line and anair receiving supply line connecting said nozzle structure With saidmetering apparatus,

said nozzle structure including a liquid orifice concentrically locatedwith respect to a portion of said liquid supply line,

an air chamber surrounding said liquid orifice,

and an iair orice concentric with and surrounding s-aid liquid orificeoperable for entraining and diffusing liquid ejected from said liquidorice for ydistribution in sai-d drum.

2. ,Fabric treating apparatus comprising ta casing,

a rotatable tumbler drum mounted Within said casing,

drive means for rotating said tumbler drum about an axis,

a nozzle structure` mounted on said casing for intro-v ducing adispersed material into said tumbler drum in a direction generallyparallel to the axis of rotation of said tumbler drum,

said nozzle including a liquid orice,

an air chamber surrounding said liquid orice,

andan air orifice concentric with and surrounding said liquid orifice,

metering apparatus mounted on said casing including a metering containerhaving a dip tube therein,

a first valve for controlling the introduction of a liquid material intosaid metering container,

ia second valve for controlling the discharge of material from saidmetering container through said `dip tube,

a liquid receiving supply line connecting said liquid orice and said diptube,

an air supply line connected to said air chamber,

and third valve means in said air supplyline,

said third valve means permitting fair flow through said air chamber to:draw a predetermined amount of liquid lfrom said metering containerthrough said liquid orifice for dispersion in said tumbler drum in afabric treating operation.

3. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a casing,

a customer access door mounted on one side of said casing,

a second door mounted on said casing, t

a rotatable, open ended, perforated tumbler drum mounted withinsaidcasing between said doors `so that access may be had to the interior ofsaid drum through either door,

-a coin operated device mounted on said casing,

a mechanism interlocked with said coin operated device to controlcustomer accessibility to said drum,

drive means for rotating said tumbler drum about an axis,

a nozzle structure mounted on said casing for introduoinig a dispersedmaterial into said tumbler drum in a direction generally parallel to theaxis of rotation of said tumbler drum,

said nozzle including a liquid oriice,

an air chamber surrounding saidr liquid orifice,

and an air orifice concentric With :and surrounding said liquid orice, y

metering apparatus mounted :on said casing including a meteringcontainer having a dip tube therein,

a first valve for controlling the introduction of a liquid material intosaid metering container,

a second valve for controlling the discharge of material from saidmetering container through said dip tube,

Ia liquid receiving supply line connecting said liquid orilice and `saiddip tube,

an air supply line *connected to said air chamber,

and third valve means in said air Supply line,

said third valve means permitting air ilow through said air chamber todraw a predetermined amount of lliquid from said metering containerthrough said liquid orice for dispersion in said tumbler drum in afabric treating operation.

4. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a casing,

a customer access door mounted on -one side of said casing,

a second doory mounted on said casing,

a rotatable, open ended, perforated tumbler 'drum mounted within saidcasing between said doors so that access may be had to the interior 4ofsaid drum through either door,

a coin operated device mounted on said casing,

a mechanism interlocked With said coin operated device to controlcustomer accessibility to said drum,

drive means for rotating Asaid tumbler drum about an axis,

a nozzle structure mounted on said second door for -introducing adispersed material into said tumbler drum in a direction generallyparallel to the axis of rotation of said tumbler drum,

said nozzle including :a liquid orifice,

an air chamber surrounding sai-d liquid oriiice,`

and an air on'ce concentric with and surrounding said liquid orifice,

metering apparatus mounted on said casing adjacent said second doorincluding a metering container having a dip tube therein,

a rst valve for controlling the introduction `of a liquid material intosaid metering container,

a second valve for .controlling the discharge of material from saidmetering container through said dip tube,

a flexible liquid receiving supply line connecting said Iliquid orificeand said dip tube,

a flexible air supply line connected to said air chamber,

`and third valve means in said air supply line,

-said third valve means permitting air -ow through said air chamber todraw a predetermined amount of liquid from said metering containerthrough said -liquid orice for dispersion in said tumbler drum in iafabric treating operation, l

and said flexible supply Alines permitting opening and closing of saidsecond door Without disconnecting said supply lines.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,358Bartelt Sept. 7, 1909 2,200,144 Zimarik May 7, 1940 k2,470,043'Monsarrat May 10, 1949 2,593,813 Derwalker Apr. 22, 1952 ,2,631,588 vPaschell Mar. 17, 1953 2,812,593' Olthuis Nov. 12, 1957 3,012,428Cissell Dec. 12, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 534,860 Great Britain Mar. 20,1941

2. FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CASING, A ROTATABLE TUMBLERDRUM MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASING, DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TUMBLERDRUM ABOUT AN AXIS, A NOZZLE STRUCTURE MOUNTED ON SAID CASING FORINTRODUCING A DISPERSED MATERIAL INTO SAID TUMBLER DRUM IN A DIRECTIONGENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID TUMBLER DRUM, SAIDNOZZLE INCLUDING A LIQUID ORIFICE, AN AIR CHAMBER SURROUNDING SAIDLIQUID ORIFICE, AND AN AIR ORIFICE CONCENTRIC WITH AND SURROUNDING SAIDLIQUID ORIFICE, METERING APPARATUS MOUNTED ON SAID CASING INCLUDING AMETERING CONTAINER HAVING A DIP TUBE THEREIN,